Cannabis plant named &#39;MR2017003&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Cannabis  named ‘MR2017003’ that is characterized by about 1% THC and 15% CBD by dry weight and a high flower yield.

Genus and species: Cannabis sativa.

Variety denomination: ‘MR2017003’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 US.S.C 199(f) to Canadian Plant Breeders' Rights Application Number 19-9706, which was filed for the instant plant variety on Jan. 18, 2019.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) cultivar designated as ‘MR2017003’.

‘MR2017003’ is a selection resulting from a controlled-cross between the male Cannabis sativa variety ‘Buddha's Sister #42’ and a female Cannabis sativa variety with approximately 0% THC and 15% CBD by dry weight.

Seeds from the cross were sown in Markham, Ontario, Canada and plants were screened for a number of traits including THC and CBD levels, yield, flowering time, disease resistance and flower morphology. An individual plant having about 1% THC and 15% CBD by dry weight and a high flower yield was chosen to be ‘MR2017003’.

In September 2016, ‘MR2017003’ was first asexually propagated by apical stem cuttings approximately 10 cm long and having multiple auxiliary meristems, in Markham, Ontario, Canada. ‘MR2017003’ is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinctive Cannabis cultivar designated as ‘MR2017003’.

‘MR2017003’ exhibits approximately 1% THC and 15% CBD by dry weight. ‘MR2017003’ also exhibits high flower yield.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs depict characteristics of ‘MR2017003’ as nearly true as possible to make color reproductions. The photographs are of plants aged 53 days post-floral transition and grown in flower rooms under standard cultivation methods in Bradford, Ontario Canada.

FIG. 1 shows multiple, whole plant clones of ‘MR2017003’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of inflorescences and foliage of ‘MR2017003’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar ‘MR2017003’.

‘MR2017003’ has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. Phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environment without any variance in genotype.

The traits of ‘MR2017003’ have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of ‘MR2017003’.

The data that follows was collected in Markham, Ontario Canada.

Plants were flowered under standard indoor environmental conditions with High Pressure Sodium lamps. Clones were cut from healthy mothers and allowed to roots for 14 to 18 days prior to being introduced to the flower room. The room was maintained at 18 hour days/6 hour nights for a week to allow the cuttings to establish adequate vegetative tissue. The floral transition was initiated by switching to 12 hour days and 12 hour nights. Flowering lasted 8-9 weeks before harvest, at which point samples were taken for chemical analysis, and yield was quantified. Morphological measurements were taken from plants aged 5 weeks post-floral transition.

Standard in-house developed nutrients were used throughout growth, and the plants were defoliated and pruned as necessary throughout the cycle.

In the following description, the color determination is in accordance with the 2017 Munsell Plant Tissue Color Book, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Classification:     -   -   Denomination.—‘MR2017003’.         -   Family.—Cannabacaeae.         -   Genus.—Cannabis.         -   Species.—Cannabis sativa.         -   Common name.—Marijuana. -   Parentage: Male Cannabis sativa variety ‘Buddha's Sister #42’ and a     female Cannabis sativa variety with approximately 0% THC and 15% CBD     by dry weight. -   Propagation: ‘MR2017003’ is asexually (clonally) propagated from     vegetative cuttings. -   Plant:     -   -   Height.—70 cm-105 cm.         -   Width.—35 cm-45 cm. -   Stems:     -   -   Length/height.—65 cm-90 cm.         -   Width/diameter.—3.6 mm-9.8 mm.         -   Color.—2.5 GY 5/6.         -   Shape.—Tubular.         -   Texture.—Fibrous and Pubescent.         -   Lateral branch length.—20 cm-40 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Type/form.—Palmately Compound.         -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf width.—7 cm-15 cm.         -   Leaf length.—9 cm-13 cm.         -   Number of leaflets per leaf.—5-7.         -   Leaflet shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Leaflet length.—4 cm-13 cm.         -   Leaflet width.—0.8 cm-3 cm.         -   Leaflet margin.—Serrate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acuminate.         -   Leaflet base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaflet color, upper surface.—7.5 GY 3/4.         -   Leaflet color, lower surface.—5 GY 5/4.         -   Venation pattern and description, upper and lower leaflet             surfaces.—Pinnate.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Pubescent, primarily on the abaxial             side and along leaf vasculature.         -   Stipules.—Present, 2 per node on either side of a petiole,             attenuated. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—1 cm-5 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.9 mm-2.5 mm.         -   Texture.—Fine, short non-glandular trichomes.         -   Color.—5 GY 6/6, 5 RP 3/6. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Short day photo period sensitive.         -   Attachment.—Subsessile.         -   Bracts.—Covered with trichomes and resin glands with 2             stigmas emerging.         -   Inflorescence color.—5 GY 4/4.         -   Number of inflorescences per plant.—35-75.         -   Diameter.—2.5 cm-4 cm.         -   Length.—3 cm-6 cm.         -   Inflorescence anthocyanin.—Absent.         -   Inflorescence THC content.—1%. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pistils.—1.         -   Quantity (of stigmas) per flower.—2.         -   Stigma length.—0.5 cm.         -   Stigma width.—0.5 mm-0.7 mm.         -   Stigma color.—2.5 GY 8/4, 7.5 YR 5/6, 10 R 3/4. -   THC and CBD content:     -   -   Average % THC by dry weight.—1%.         -   Average % CBD by dry weight.—15%. -   Yield:     -   -   Average flower yield.—571 g/m² (grams dried, trimmed flower             per m² of growing space).         -   Average trim yield.—248 g/m² (grams trichome rich leaf             material per m² that is removed during harvest/trimming).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘MR2017003’ may be compared with its female parental line with respect to THC content. ‘MR2017003’ exhibits 1% THC by dry weight and the female parent exhibits 0% THC by dry weight.

A close variety of Cannabis known to the inventors is the commercial variety ‘Girl Scout Cookies’. Variety ‘MR2017003’ can be distinguished from the variety ‘Girl Scout Cookies’ with respect to the morphological traits shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison between ‘MR2017003’ and ‘Girl Scout Cookies’ ‘Girl Scout Characteristic ‘MR2017003'’ Cookies’ Overage Average 76.2 cm 69.6 cm Height Average Active Height 64.0 cm 56.5 cm Average # of Nodes 29.1 22.3 Average Internodal  6.0 cm  6.6 cm Space Average Flower Width  4.8 cm  5.3 cm

Another comparator to variety ‘MR2017003’ is the variety ‘Cannatonic’. Variety ‘MR2017003’ can be distinguished from the variety ‘Cannatonic’ with respect to its higher flower yield (measured in g/m² of growing space), average CDB % by dry weight and mg of CBD per m² of growing space as shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison between ‘MR2017003’ and ‘Cannatonic’ Characteristic MR2017003 ‘Cannatonic’ Avg. g/m² Flower 583.2 317 Yield* Average % CBD by 15.45 12.58 Dry Weight Mg CBD/m^(2**) 106,881 46,155 *Yield refers to grams dried, trimmed flower per m² of growing space. **Refers to milligrams of CBD obtained from dried flower per m² of growing space. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Cannabis plant named ‘MR2017003’ as described and illustrated herein. 